Apple needs to buy one of the OF-like thingies and make it standard/required. Until then I'd rather that everybody used the currently most popular one even if it isn't the best (I have to say, though, that I really like that OF doesn't require me to log in for every new game.) But adding OF to Peggle isn't tops on my want list. I want PopCap to deliver the long promised, never delivered, update, adding the background music. Their failure to do this has left a bad taste in my mouth for PopCap on the iPhone. I know some people don't care about the music, but to me it really adds to the game.
No thanks. I like the independent spirit of the app store and that's a bit too centralized IMO. I don't mind having several social tools. They'll devour each other over time and we'll have Coke and Pepsi and RC Cola versions of these things. For now everyone figured out the value of OF/+Plus and are trying to throw their own hat in the ring.
Glad I gave you a giggle. As for whether my post was informed or not, I based it purely on my experiences, not on a controlled sample or anything scientific Still, I can't really believe that I am the only one that finds the OF interface badly implemented in many games. Perhaps it has the potential to be done right, but many developers don't seem to have pulled it off. Plus+ and Agon offer a consistent user experience, OF sometimes opens to scores, sometimes to friends, etc. Furthermore, I find much of the UI clunky and personally don't like the amount of wasted screen space with the fat borders. As for loading times, my experience has been just the opposite of what you say. OF generally seems to take far longer to load scores than either Plus+ or Agon. Again, I find it hard to believe that I am the only one who has found this. Regarding a single Apple scores platform, I'd have to wait until Steve fires up the RDF to see what it is that I want
Again, I have to ask, are you basing your opinion off of OF 2.4? I simply cannot believe that you are, because its a major improvement. That's clunky It looks very polished & organized to me.
YOU dont. The systems owners get a bunch of value. They'll get bought out sooner or later. (agreed - hopefully sooner)
Yup, I've used it, and agree that it is cleaner than the previous versions which are still in most of the OF games I have (hmm, they've cut back from five to three tabs along the bottom, where have I seen that before? ) To be fair, much of my dislike comes from earlier versions of the OF platform, not to mention early Aurora Feint address book access shenanigans. I've said elsewhere that the latest version of OF is better, but I still don't like it as much as some of the other alternatives and the scores don't load any quicker for me. What's more, the latest version introduces intrusive cross-promotion banners that alternate with the OF banner. I really dislike having ads thrust in my face in paid apps but I guess this is just another part of OF's "super slick new promotional tools." Just my tuppence worth.
You do get value, you just don't realize it. Every time one of them releases an update to try to be more featured or faster or whatever then the others, they are doing it (at least in part) because the other systems exist. Competition is what spurs innovation. Michael
Plus+ doesn't own the three tabs at the bottom Besides, OF does it better. I don't believe those contacts rumors were ever confirmed either. And what's wrong with getting games noticed? Currently, the only "obtrusive, thrust in your face" ads are Fieldrunners & MiniSquadron. And I fail to see how those are obtrusive, they slowly fade in and out. I don't classify that as obtrusive at all. Honestly I don't see how they bother you so much. You won't find a cleaner ad scheme anywhere around. Im guessing you dislike the "obtrusive" banner ads on TA as well?
Well to be fair you are not paying OF to host your account information on their servers so they have to give some incentive to devs in order to make some money off their venture. Also you can choose not to log into OF so you don't need to use it at all if you don't care about online leader boards and achievements. Don't go crying to the devs because they chose OF. It is a lot of work hosting information on servers and keeping them running at optimal speeds while also maintaining them. For independents this is a good option to allow their players to have some form of community and online play. I for one am glad there are options out there. I thought at first it wasn't such a hot idea but I kind of like the back and forth competition.
Not pretending Plus+ do, just think that it's telling that OF saw the need to follow suit when they overhauled their UI Not rumours, they accessed address book data unknown to the user. The big difference is I haven't paid a subscription to TA. I, like many people, don't like having ads inserted into apps I have paid for. Glu did it ages ago with Space Monkey, then relented and took them out due to customer complaints. Shopper customers have made their thoughts clearly known. Anyway, each to his own. You like OF best, other folks like other platforms more. No big deal
I think I like the interface of Plus+ a little more. It looks more futuristic to me, and that's always a plus (heh... no pun intended ). I despise Agon completely. I don't like it at all. And OpenFeint pre-2.4 was okay, but I loved Plus+ a lot more. OpenFeint 2.4 is fantastic, though. Definitely a step in the right direction, and I love it immensely. The one thing I hate about it is whenever someone comes online or you unlock an Achievement, a bar at the bottom of the screen comes up, and with games like MiniGore, this can lead to accidental tapping of the bar, and subsequently opening up OpenFeint, leading to an interrupted game. I'm sure there's a way to turn that off, but still... it's annoying. Interface-wise, Plus+ has my heart. Usage-wise, OpenFeint is my favorite. Agon doesn't deserve any praise (my opinion, no offense )
